One way to examine the issue is to look at successful economies and see how they are generating electricity
Not the full answer but a good start.
Obviously established coal is the current preference.
Nuclear has already been discussed and is an option for Oz. Ok with me but a fearful step to take for any party.
Hydro is not a large option for flat Australia.
My pet solution is natural gas for Australia - a large mostly undrilled resource in offshore WA and fraccable reserves in most onshore states. Gas takes a stable economic environment and best works in large scale, long term projects. Gas would find some middle ground in affordable prices (if done by industry and given economic stability) and minimum CO2 for a petroleum option.
This would move us to the US model and allow less coal but maintain economic robustness.
Australia 2017
